A WOOD Green school once threatened with closure is now "outstanding" with pupil grades improving quickly year upon year.

Woodside High School, in White Hart Lane, is the first of Haringey's schools to receive the top rating under tougher guidelines
rolled out by Ofsted.

In 2008, the then education secretary Ed Balls gave the specialist business and enterprise school a final warning after it fell below the 30 per cent threshold of pupils achieving five or more
GCSEs at grade A* to C including maths and English.

This increased to 38 per cent the following year and in 2009/10 jumped to 47 per cent.

Headteacher Joan McVittie, staff and pupils have worked hard to increase attainment and are now celebrating the rewards and have also been named one of the top 25 schools in the country for
improved exam results.

She said: "To have our school recognised as outstanding is fantastic and a testament to the dedication and skills of our exceptional team and the support of our governors and families.

"We are determined to build on the successes achieved to date and to continue to drive up our students' achievements within a positive, challenging and supportive environment."

According to Ofsted, "students make outstanding progress" and "leave as confident, well-rounded individuals, with high aspirations".

Ofsted praised Woodside's emphasis on high expectations, and noted: "The school provides its students with a very safe environment where the business of the day for everyone is 'work hard and aim
high'."

Students' behaviour was outstanding both in the classroom and around the school, inspectors found.